BC-NH--New Hampshire News Digest, NH

Friday

Jan 11, 2013 at 2:15 PM

New Hampshire at 2 p.m.

The breaking news staffer for Northern New England is Kathy McCormack in Concord, N.H. to be followed by Lisa Rathke in Montpelier, Vt., at 3 p.m. The breaking news staffer/Concord bureau can be reached at 603-224-3327. The breaking news staffer after 3 p.m. can be reached at 802-229-0577. New England News Editor Cara Rubinsky can be reached at 617-357-8100.

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To reach the photo department, call 617-357-8106. AP stories, along with the photos that accompany them, can also be obtained from http://www.apexchange.com. Reruns also are available from customer support at 877-836-9477.

The e-mail address for member contributions is apconcord(at)ap.org

HEALTH OVERHAUL-NH

CONCORD — A new report will help New Hampshire lawmakers and the governor decide whether to expand Medicaid under the new federal health care law. The state Health and Human Services Department hired a consulting group to study the issue after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June that expanding Medicaid was optional under the Affordable Care Act. By Holly Ramer.

LAKE SUNAPEE-DAMAGED SHIP

SUNAPEE — A dinner cruise ship docked at New Hampshire's Sunapee Harbor has taken on water. The stern of the MV Kearsarge was in about 8 feet of water Friday. It is surrounded by a boom to contain any fuel leaks. AP Photos.

CHILD EXPLOITATION-TRIAL

CONCORD — The allegations were almost too heinous and far-fetched to be believed. A New Hampshire lawyer who graduated at the top of her class and credited her success to Christianity was accused of using her 14-year-old daughter as a sexual pawn, at one point even engaging in a sexual act with the girl on camera. But believe them a jury did, convicting the woman Thursday of eight counts of exploiting the teenager, who is now in foster care. Her attorney called no witnesses during barely a day of testimony, only imploring jurors in his closing arguments to put aside their emotions as they deliberated. By Lynne Tuohy.

ALSO GETTING ATTENTION:

— FLU SEASON-NH — The flu season is more severe in New Hampshire than in recent years, but the state public health director says it's not yet to the point of alarming.

— PHARMACY TECHNICIAN-SUSPENSION — The New Hampshire Board of Pharmacy is issuing an emergency order suspending the license of a Walgreen's pharmacy technician suspected of stealing at least 300 prescription pain relief pills.

— MARIJUANA ARRESTS — An undercover marijuana operation involving New Hampshire and Massachusetts police has resulted in the arrest of two men and the seizure of 16 pounds of the drug.

— AYOTTE-VETERANS — President Barack Obama has signed into law a bill introduced by New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte to restore a veterans cemetery in the Philippines that is the final resting place for more than 8,300 American service members and their family.

— PROSTITUTION ARRESTS — Two women from Maine and one from New Hampshire have been arrested in an undercover prostitution sting in Kittery. Police say officers working undercover contacted the women online and arranged meetings at a Kittery hotel.

— BEDFORD HOME INVASION — The chief medical examiner for New Hampshire says it's unlikely the death of a Bedford woman found in her mother-in-law's condominium is a homicide.

— DARTMOUTH PRESIDENT — Dartmouth College is welcoming its next president with an informal celebration six months ahead of his official start. Philip Hanlon, provost at the University of Michigan, will start work July 1 at Dartmouth, where he will be the Ivy League college's 18th president. He will be on campus Friday for a welcome celebration and news conference.

— HASSAN-ECONOMY — Gov. Maggie Hassan is continuing her statewide tour to promote innovation in New Hampshire with a stop at a Pittsfield manufacturer.